Wood block flooring



March 17, 1931. -c w ALLEN 1,796,880

WOOD BLOCK FLOORING ori inal Filed Feb. 25, 1928 Patented Mar. 17, 1931 entree STATES PATENT orrics CHARLES W.

ALLEN, 'OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO E. L. BRUCE OOMPAN Y, OF

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE v WOOD BLOCK FLOORING Application filedFebruary 25 1928, Serial No. 256,947. Renewed August 16, 1930.

My invention relates to wood flooring and has particularly in view the production of fabricated blocks and similar structural units from flooring strips.

One of the objects of the invention is to devise a cheap and satisfactory means for tying together thin strips of flooring. While adequate means have been devised heretofore, for tying together fioorin strips that are three-fourths of an inc thick or thicker, these means are not adaptable for such thin strips of flooring as are only approximatel %ths of an inch thick.

Thin flooring 0 this character is used in dry climates for new construction and can also be generally used in refiooring houses, wherein, of course, the old flooring is thoroughly dried out. Such thin flooring under unusual moisture conditions will cup and warp but when used under the indicated dry conditions, it is as serviceable as the thicker flooring.

Referring to the drawing for a more complete disclosure of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view showing the invention as applied to square blocks;

Fig. 2 is a similar bottom plan view of a hexagonal block;

Fig. 3 is a similar bottom plan view of a parallelogram block;

Fig. 4; is a similar bottom plan view of a triangular block;

Fig. 5 is a similar bottom plan view of fabricated strip flooring;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. '1; Iand 1 Fig.

The strips of flooring 2 have the customary tongue 3 and roove 4 along the longitudinal edges of t e strip for br1ng1ng to- 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of gether the strips in the proper assembled relationship. Before or after assembling the strips, there is cut in the back of each strip and across the grain of the wood a narrow groove 5. This groove w1ll be cut to a depth of from about a thlrd to a half the thickness of the strip and of a width about equal to the depth of the groove. Into this groove will be forced -a.st1ff springy wire 6 which substantially fills the groove, and this wire will be held in place through frictional engagement with the sides of the groove. The wire is preferably applied by forcing it downward into the groove. The relationship between the depth of the groove and the thickness of the wire will be such as that the under surface of the wire will be below the under surface of the strip, otherwise the strip would not lie fiat on the subfloor but would ride on it.

It is desirable that the wire be sufliciently stiff and sprin y so that it will resist any tendency to de ormation. The wire may be coated with an adhesive cement for the purpose of causing itto remain better in fixed position in its groove.

In assembling strips to form certain types of wood blocks such as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there will be used a pair of parallel grooves 5 with wire splines 6. In assembling the strips to form triangular blocks, the grooves 5 will be at an angle to each other and intersect as shown in Fig. 4. In

this case, the wire 6 will terminate short of the intersection of the grooves 5.

The same means may be employed for securing together short strips of flooring to make larger strips as shown in Fig. 5. There a short piece 2a adjoins a longer strip 26, there being a tongue and groove connection between them along the adjoining line 7 and also a tongue and groove connection along the line 8 where the piece 20. abuts the piece 20. Another short piece 2d is similarly related to its adjoining pieces. The location of a suitable number of wire splines 6, as shown, will serve to adequately hold the different strips against displacement.

The strips are provided on their under side with the customary hollow backs 9.

I am aware that the invention may be 1 claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A structural unit comprising relatively thin strips of wood flooring united along their edges, a narrow groove out across the grain of the wood and opening on the under side of the strips and a wire having a curved section forced downwardly into and frictionally held in position in the groove and being wholly located below the under surface of the strip.

2. A structural unit comprising relatively thin strips of wood flooring united along their edges, a narrow'groove cut across the grain of the wood and opening on the under side of the strips and a stiff springy wire wedged downwardly into and frictionally held in position in the groove and being wholly located below the under surface of the strip.

8. A structural unit comprising relatively thin strips of wood flooring united along their edges, a narrow groove cut'across the grain of the wood and opening on the under side of the strips, the depth of the groove being substantially equal to its width and a stiff wire havinga curved section forced downwardly into and frictionally held in position in the groove and being wholly located below the under surface of the strip.

4. A structural unit comprising strips of wood flooring united along their edges, a groove cut across the grain of the wood and opening on the under side of the strips, the depth of the groove being substantially equal to its width, a stiff wire wedged downwardly into and frictionally held in position in the -"groove and substantially filling the groove and being wholly located below the under surface of the strip.

5. A structural unit comprising thin strips of flooring united along their edges by tongue and groove joints, a narrow groove cut across the grain of the wood and opening on the underside of the strips, the groove being cut to a depth of from about a third to a half the thickness of the strips and of a width about equal to the depth of the groove, a stiff springy wire of curved section forced downward into and substantially filling the groove and held in place through frictional engagement with the sides of the groove and being located wholly below the under surface of the strips.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES W. ALLEN. 

